Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-06

,,' "Mr: BAXTER, SIR" whispered Binns. .th'
eie Yoa gent, sir ne. on s ret our dra0"
"He is indeed, sir. BE and master seems ven
thick; they're speaking over old Cambridge times
"Of course, !" said the curate, in DESPAIR. II sex
IL now Old Septimus was at Cambridge SO was
~ aeatheo,e; they are old friends How In the name
Oh providence am to get out OF this? I say
SSlnns, 40 you know must stop here TILL he goes
You Eiu keep IL dark-now won't your"
| will know" -- -A' N'00oN'
Tom smiled in his misery at the idea After all
well, Binns, really think will.p
anu t0e trusty servitOr disappeared to return
neg and Pia ae Of cold pie bottle
Inank we, Binns, " said Tom, gratefully; "nov
60 away and don't come back tiii the clergyman
nus gone Whew! How hot It is!"
IL ,Ods bot, and no mistake On scorchine day
on n anterior OF . drag with the windows shut Il
HSe a To agreea6 d resting place as the BLACK
9iahk lumber Of iced champagne, which made
,ra nucn warmer than before though it inspired
MIN 70 smile at his position His sti collar was
growing Jump, and his heavy black garments be
gan aW 70 grow insuPportable.
proceeded TO do so. Then he felt better, finished
the plate OF pie, and had another tumbler of cham.
iS Zee nan inclined to go out and face
LII, lenScIeu ION, but his heart failed. He piled
tne oust-cIoaks, coats, and umbrellas in one cor.
ner, ana tried to make himself comfortable. Pre-
tlic iLdtCQ was resumed. ana Clc0
his real suffering began Tom had never endured
sucn torture. Loud applause frequently broke
p SpSh ms eaTs shouts Of well ht well
maddenlng even than these sounds, there was q
ueeP husn OF suspense In the noisy crowd or dis
netly audible sigh Of relief which told bis prac
tlssu ears tnat some exciting crisis OF the game
mad come or gone. lie vafnly peered over the
haf-draWn blind to catch glimpse OF the players:
black hats and variegated sunShades. Bnns re-
turned notion dared not quit his hiding place,
ana despair once more possessed his soul sup
appallingly hot 1t Isl" (Heat Is apt to relax the
pfOpriety even OF curateS language.) swish
dare take some more Of my clothes OH" And then
ms eye Iei on the champagne bottle, which was
nearly half full. "Well, can have another drink
at. al events. And again his troubles seemed
for he was big man, and the space was small
and by degrees he finished the bottle "If only
had weed, he reflected; haven't smoked for
10 recklessness, he hunted In the pockets Of
tne other mems overcOats until he found q
c1gar-case. When he had Lit cigar he felt COM
parativey at ease. 1t was very hot, he Thought:
put peaceful feeling stole over him; the hum OF
lhe crowd grew fainter and fainter; the shouts Of
applause more distant; even the hammering OF
SUCKS and umbrellas on the drag within 6 inches
OF MS mead ceased to annoy him. He pulled OF his
cigar iesS energeticay soon it fell from his lips
and the Rev. Thomas baxter slept as peacefully
as child.
He was awakened by rough shake, and shout
In his ear or "Hi, wake up!" Returning to semi
consciousness he indistinctly heard EXPLANATIONS
OF 'Shameful!" 'Disgust1ngw "WhO would have
thought it," And then q familiar voice said in
somewhat quavering accents, "Leave him to me,
papa must see him alone" Tom pulled him.
self together with a jerk, opened his heavy eyes,
and found himself confronted by Miss Alice Heath
cote, who stood with flushed cheeks and indignant
expression at the door OF the drag.
Are you awake, sire" she inquired, with elabo-
rate SternneSS.
awake! yes; why not, dear?" stammered Mr.
Baxter.
"Then what is the meaning Of this7 You leave
me hours ago and say you don't feel well, and
here find you sound asleep when the play is
over for the day. and we have been sending all
over the ground for you. And In your shirt
sleeves, tOo!n
"Good graeiousl beg your pardon. forgot!"
And, blushing scarlet the curate huddled on his
coat.
"And they all say that you are drunk" she
continued, with half-sOb. ''Oh, Tom, it's shame
ful!"
"Drunk!" cried Mr. Baxter, Indignantly. 81
should Like to meet anybody who says that Pm
drunk! Let me explain, darling. I'll come out
now" And then he caught sight OF his vicar
again. and shrank back-"Is that man neusr
gOing?"
"What mann" asked Miss Alice, with impa-
thence. Really, Tom, you must be mad to-day"
who he is?p
"Of course 1 do: it's Mr.. Grayson, a vicar
somewhere In Yorkshire an old college friend OF
papas; they haven't met for twenty years I'm
sure mes not an alarming person-in fact, theonly
strange thing about him Is that about twenty
people have mistaken him for your man-Mr
Stra1ghtway, you know. Are they at all alike?"
YES, they are-rather," gaSped Tom, scarcely
knowing whether he stood on his head or heels.
'Come and introduce him to me, darling. III
make 1t ali right with your father"
And he did; but 1t Will be some time before he
hears the last OF that cricket match.